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Donovan's Bookshelf

January  2023 Prime Picks

 
Reviewer's Choice
Young Adult / Children
 

Reviewer's Choice 

The Charlton Companion
Jon B. Cooke
9781605491110             $43.95
TwoMorrows Publishing
www.twomorrows.com 

Jon. B. Cooke's The Charlton Companion provides a history of Connecticut's comic book company. This may surprise knowledgeable comic history readers who are aware that the company has often been considered a second-rate funny-book institution unworthy of acclaim, but Charlton produced a vast range of titles and fostered artists who excelled in creativity and humor alike.

Interviews with dozens of its participants and artists, along with some residents who worked in the company over three decades ago, are presented alongside sidebars of lively discourse and striking color illustrations of Charlton products, making The Charlton Companion a 'must' acquisition for any comic book history library. 


Dune Shacks of Provincetown
Jane Paradise
Schiffer Publishing
9780764363610             $34.99
www.schifferpublishing.com 

Dune Shacks of Provincetown belongs in both architectural history collections and, particularly, in any library with a special interest in Massachusetts subjects. It brings to life the Cape Cod National Seashore area and 19 vintage shacks that are set amongst its dunes. 

Quotes from a myriad of literary figures consider the liquid landscapes of the region and the importance of preserving both nature and the human habitations among it. These accompany facing pages of color photos that depict landscapes, dune shack interiors and exteriors, and artistic images of structures that capture the history and mystery of the area. 

The backshore of Provincetown and the dune shacks that are profiled here as remnants of makeshift summer homes from the early 1900s creates a special sense of history and nature that intersect in a powerful visual collection reinforced by the poetic and prosaic contributions of a variety of observers and artists. 

The result is a uniquely lovely compilation that should find a place in any collection strong in seashore landscapes, human and natural structures, and Massachusetts history in particular. 


Ilex Press
www.ilex.press 

Two outstanding books about photography are highly recommended picks for libraries seeking books that are standouts. 

The revised, updated version of Pring's Photographer's Miscellany: Stories, Techniques, Tips & Trivia (9781781578728, $12.99) reviews the early pioneers of photography and the lesser-known history surrounding the art, from the early principle of the camera obscura in China in the 5th century BCE to the international equivalent of asking people to say "cheese" while posing for a shot. 

The compendium of vintage black and white photos and whimsical facts about the fine art of photography over the ages makes for a fine collection that especially excels in trivia history. The diverse collection of details is fun to read and hard to put down. 

Michael Freeman On... Light & Shadow: The Ultimate Photography Masterclass (9781781578544, $27.99) offers new ideas and insights based on some forty years of photographic experience, considering how the world of shadows is as important to photographic art as its typical focus on utilizing light. 

Freeman's book is designed to make the most of applying light and shadow in a picture, showing fellow photographers how to take command of and incorporate both facets. This survey is packed with new content, employing a format that lends to easy understanding of light and shadow technicalities, paired with examples that highlight best practices and possibilities. 

In profiling normal, everyday scenes that hold opportunity for extraordinary pictures via a better understanding of light and shadow contrasts, Freeman produces a guide which should be in any serious photographer's 'how to' collection. 


The Imperfect Nutritionist
Jennifer Medhurst
Kyle Books
9781914239755             $29.99
www.octopusbooksusa.com 

The Imperfect Nutritionist: 7 Principles of Healthy Eating links food to health in a title which avoids the usual 'what to eat/what not to eat' in favor of exploring the underlying principles of a basic healthy diet. 

From understanding the value in prebiotic and probiotic foods and fermented foods to incorporating diversity in one's diet while accounting for fats and carb content, Jennifer Medhurst goes beyond the diet-and-recipe contents of most cookbooks (though some 70 recipes do support her contentions) to provide a treatise on nutrition that pairs desirable, flavorful foods with better knowledge of the basics of how they support health. 

Libraries seeking a nutrition guide filled with health insights will find The Imperfect Nutritionist's cookbook/health guide to be inviting, packed with color photos and insights that are easy to absorb. 


Koala
Danielle Clode
W.W. Norton
9781324036838             $27.95
www.wwnorton.com 

Koala: A Natural history and an Uncertain Future is an in-depth survey of one of nature's more iconic and mysterious creatures. It journeys into the koala's world to consider their history and changing relationship with humans. 

Danielle Clode's background in biology and natural history lends to a lively tale of koalas in the wild and those raised in wildlife parks. 

An evocative voice adds drama to the insights: 

"I cannot imagine what a koala senses when it leans into a tree - the security of its claws digging into the bark, the warmth of the sun or the cool of the shade, the firm reassurance of a branch at their back. Can they feel the freshness of the leaves they select, or the solidity of the branch bearing their weight? I don't know. But I do know that koalas, like all of us, need something to hold, whether it's a tree or the warmth of another body." 

Natural history collections will find Koala an engrossing, educational encounter that will attract a wide audience. 


Learn to Crochet in 10 Easy Lessons
Galena Baca
Stackpole Books
9780811770743             $24.95
www.stackpolebooks.com 

There are many, many how-to books on crochet already on the market—so why the need for yet another beginner's guide? Because Learn to Crochet in 10 Easy Lessons features not just a close-up pictorial review of stitches and techniques, but 28 patterns that encourage beginner success. 

Other pluses include right- or left-handed holding and crochet directions, definitions of basic crochet shorthand instructions, and close-up color photos that leave nothing to wonder. 

Learn to Crochet in 10 Easy Lessons is far more attractive and easier to use than most beginner's crochet guides, and is highly recommended for any individual or collection that wants to learn the most in the least amount of time. 


Roadside Geology of Hawai'i
Rick Hazlett, Cheryl Gansecki, Steve Lundblad
Mountain Press Publishing
9780878427116             $26.00
www.mountain-press.com 

The second updated edition of Roadside Geology of Hawai'i has been completely revised to include the 2018 eruption of Kilauea, and helps armchair geologists and destination-bound visitors better understand the formations and wonders that make up the different Hawaiian islands. 

From waterfalls and lava tube caves to rejuvenated volcanic activity on some islands, Rick Hazlett and his fellow authors traverse the geologic development of the region and the science of their formation and ongoing evolution. 

Roadside Geology of Hawai'i's in-depth coverage, with its bright color charts, photos, and explanations that move from science to travel attractions, is highly recommended for geology and travel libraries alike. 


Steinbeck's Imaginarium
Robert DeMott
University of New Mexico Press
9780826364289             $45.00
www.unmpress.com 

Steinbeck's Imaginarium: Essays on Writing, Fishing, and Other Critical Matters is a literary examination that delves into various aspects of John Steinbeck's writing. It blends biography with literary analysis to illuminate his lesser-covered works and the influences on their production. 

Interconnected themes and origins in works ranging from Cannery Row to The Grapes of Wrath require a wide-ranging familiarity with the extent of Steinbeck's works. This background knowledge is rewarded with a powerful series of essays that link Steinbeck's mental condition, perspective, and objectives to the works that made him famous. 

College-level students of Steinbeck who would delve into his works with a critical eye to better understanding their roots in his life experiences will find Steinbeck's Imaginarium a fine survey of exploratory essays that departs from many of the usual scholarly routes of inspection to embrace his life and art in a different manner. 


Walt's Apprentice
Dick Nunis
Disney Press
9781368078047             $25.99
www.disneybooks.com 

So many books have appeared about Walt Disney that it's refreshing to see one that focuses on a key individual that supported this legend and endeavor in Walt's Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream Alive. 

This personal memoir comes from one who learned from and worked directly for Walt Disney for a dozen years, then spent some thirty fostering Walt's vision and creations as an operations leader. 

Dick Nunis providers much insider information about the Disney effort, but part of the added value of this survey is his attention to details about how he and his teams incorporated Walt's uncompromising views on resiliency, determination, and leadership to continue building on his vision. 

While Disney fans of all ages will find Walt's Apprentice an attraction, it also will appeal to business leaders interested in the process of fostering and supporting a mega-dream. 



Young Adult/Children

Arctis Books
www.arctis-books.com 

Three new arrivals from Arctis Books provide middle grade to YA readers with inviting stories. 

Marianne Kaurin's Our Own Little Paradise (9781646900183, $15.00) tells of a looming summer after the last day of sixth grade, which Ina views with trepidation. 

While her classmates eagerly discuss summer vacation plans, her mother is out of work and they have no money. Unable to confess this, she lies when asked about her summer plans, inventing a trip to the tropics. It's a lie that keeps on growing until a new boy in class discovers the truth and decides to help her. 

The warm story that emerges will attract middle grade readers with a lesson in truth, lies, and supportive friends. 

Joachen Till's gorgeous Memento Monstrum (9781646900107, $20.00) is translated by Rachel Ward and features lovely colorful drawings peppering Count Dracula's memoirs. 

Monsters abound in this presentation, with hair-raising stories and compelling tales of silly spider dilemmas, invisible agents and secret services, and a performance with the Beatles. 

The zany circumstances and tales in Memento Monstrum will attract into adult circles with its fun, original adventures. 

Mats Strandberg's The End (9781646908004, $10.00) provides young adults with the story of teens Simon and Lucinda who are tackling love, mystery problem-solving, and the end of the world. 

As the themes dovetail and provide unexpected developments fitting for thriller and intrigue readers, The End introduces prospects and discoveries that will prove hard to put down. 

All are highly recommended acquisitions for libraries catering to middle grade to YA audiences. 


Candlewick Press
www.candlewickpress.com 

These new picture books from Candlewick offer young leisure readers and read-aloud adults a fine array of themes and inviting stories. 

How to Help a Friend by Karl Newson (9781536226676, $17.99) should be on the reading lists of children and in the libraries of those seeking to educate the young about being mindful and helpful to others. 

Clara Anganuzzi's lovely illustrations supplement the story of how to help a depressed friend, and how to handle emotions. The message embraces various kinds of friendships and their diverse needs and interests while helping kids understand the basics of helping others. 

Paula White's The Baker by the Sea (9781536223897, $18.99) follows a young boy who notes the special roles of every busy person in town. 

The fishermen, he thinks, are the most important; but his father is a baker and he seems destined to follow in his shoes ... even if he would rather go to sea and contribute to the town in a different way. 

Themes of family legacy, business, and contributing to one's environment are accented by black and white illustrations following the boy's revelations about his world. 

Jane Clarke's Tiptoe Tiger (9781536227505, $17.99) tells of Tara the tiger cub, who wants to play as the sun goes down in the jungle. However, her activities keep others around her awake. 

Can she tiptoe through the jungle and still have more quiet adventures? Britta Teckentrup's large-size, exceptionally colorful drawings accompany a dialogue that encourages read-aloud and interactive adventure as children are invited to observe, mimic, and understand Tara's perspective and world. 

Robert Frost's classic Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening (9781536229141, $18.99) receives simply gorgeous, artistic illustrations by P.J. Lynch which bring the rhyme to life for all ages. 

These large-size portraits of a snowy evening's wonders evoke the images of a winter wonderland, illustrating the power of the literary written word for a younger audience than would normally absorb a Robert Frost piece. 

Natalia & Lauren O'Hara's Friendleswylde (9781536225099, $18.99) tells of a mysterious boy who enters Cora and Granny's house in the woods to steal their light. 

Cora must follow the thief down a hole in the pond that leads to his magical kingdom, where she faces a special series of tasks required to keep water from their door. 

Read-aloud parents will find the intricate details in this lovely fantasy lend to numerous evenings of read-aloud enjoyment. 

Lara Hawthorne's Ratty's Big Adventure (9781536226706, $17.99) is set in the rain forest and tells of Ratty, who has lived his life in the crater of an inactive volcano. 

When he decides to leave the predictability and comfort of his home, he discovers more about the environment around him and the importance of his roots. 

The adventure will attract young readers, while its underlying message will please read-aloud adults and parents. 

Polly Faber's All Through the Night: Important Jobs That Get Done at Night (9781536227512, $17.99) enjoys engaging illustrations by Harriet Hobday as it surveys a host of workers who do their jobs at night. 

From musical concerts to 24-hour grocery stores, health services, delivery people, and paramedics, kids learn of all kinds of disparate jobs that take place when the sun goes down. 

All these books are exceptional choices for discriminating libraries and parents. 


Cocoa Magic
Sandra Badley and Gabrielle Grimard
Pajama Press
9781772782656             $18.95
www.pajamapress.ca 

Cocoa Magic is a picture book that will reach young fans of chocolate. It tells of eight-year-old Daniel, who loves to help his Great-Uncle Lewis in his chocolate shop. 

Making chocolate is only part of the story, which embraces a bigger picture when Daniel discovers that giving chocolates to others can solve many problems. 

His desire to hide chocolates to secretly improve others' lives leads to surprising results when he finds himself in need, but has kept his altruistic behaviors a secret. 

Gorgeous illustrations and a story with a message invites all ages to partake of a lesson in giving and positivity. 


Disney Press
www.DisneyBooks.com 

Loud Mouse by Cara Mentzel and Idina Menzel (9781368078061, $17.99) is a the fun tale of how a little mouse discovered her big voice, and receives engaging illustration by Jaclyn Sinquett as it tells of Dee, who loves to sing ... but usually to herself. 

It's quite another matter to sing before an audience. Can Dee, when called upon, summon the courage to use her big voice for the first time? 

The results of her experiment will delight all ages of picture book reader. 

Mo Williams's The Frustrating Book! (9781368074827, $12.99) presents another Unlimited Squirrels adventure. 

Zoom Squirrel wants to feel new emotions, and his friends work to make this happen. But what if Zoomy doesn't like them? 

Parents looking to teach kids about feelings will relish the opportunity to absorb the easy insights of this inviting tale. 


Gotcha!
Clotilde Perrin
Gecko Press
9781776574698             $28.99
www.geckopress.com 

Gotcha! A Funny Fairy Tale Hide-and-Seek may prove a shelving challenge, with its oversized presentation—but that only means that the book needs to be displayed for its full attraction; not shelved and hidden away. 

Daniel Hahn translates a child's hide-and-seek picture book that excels in vivid, full-page colorful drawings as it explores a nasty hairball, hidden pigs and mice that hide in a brick house, and a gingerbread house that invites a stinkwart to crunch at its walls. 

The special format of this book, with its flaps and discoveries, means that it ideally will be chosen by read-aloud parents and adults for a home collection rather than the rigors of elementary-level library lending. 

Its fun, intriguing journey of discovery creates a tale replete with whimsical monsters, fun structures, and stories that easily lend to a child's interactive experience with adults. 


Grandad's Pink Trousers
Lucie H
ášová Truhelková
Albatros
9788000065922             $16.95
www.albatrosbooks.com 

Grandad's Pink Trousers tells of a grandfather who isn't the usual elderly conservative man, but sports a different personality that his grandson comes to appreciate as he grows older. 

From a grandfather's habit of keeping buckets of water next to the toilet for flushing to wearing his wife's pink trousers, the old man is a puzzle and embarrassment to many. But his habits prove to have logic over time, and as the story explores the old man's oddities and sensibilities, picture book readers will come to appreciate these differences in a story that celebrates being a tad different from the norm. 


The Moonlight Zoo
Maudie Powell-Tuck
Tiger Tales Press
9781680102918             $18.99
www.tigertalesbooks.com 

The Moonlight Zoo is a simply gorgeous picture book that features a lovely cover and illustrations by Karl James Mountford as it explores Eva's sleepless night and a missing cat. 

Her explorations lead her to a "Moonlight Zoo" (a place for all lost animals and pets), where she searches for her missing cat and discovers a host of animals and clues that her cat may have been there. 

The beautiful pages and illustrations are an outstanding feature of this loving story of a lost cat and a pack of zoo animals that embark on a journey to help Eva find her loved one. 

The Moonlight Zoo is a keepsake recommendation for adults looking for lasting stories that deserve a lasting place on the bookshelf. 


Red Comet Press
www.redcometpress.com 

Néjib is a graphic designer and illustrator of children's books who puts his hand literally to work in My Hands (9781636550428, $18.99), a picture book exploration of hands and what can be done with them. 

From playing with objects and getting dressed to swimming and making hand signals, My Hands provides a fun exploration of all the possibilities that can involve an adult and listening child as they explore hands through Néjib's graphics. 

Charles Ghigna's Little Hearts (9781636550305, $17.99) features engaging illustrations by Jacqueline East as it explores the natural world and treasures to be found there. 

The smell of roses and a busy spider's "silky gift of lace" to a sweet apple's heart-shaped center are only a few examples that hearts can be found in many different places in nature. Little Hearts will delight young picture book readers with a fun story of how hearts, love, and outdoors attractions are everywhere. 

Both lend to interactive adult participation in read-alouds that encourage exploration and understanding of self and the world. 


Simon & Schuster
www.simonandschuster.net 

Picture book readers ages 4-8 and their read-aloud parents are in for a treat with these fine new choices. 

Alex Willan's Yetis are the Worst! (9781665921770, $18.99) will reach picture book readers with a very different kind of monster mash-up. 

Gilbert the Goblin realizes that unicorns throw the best tea parties and dragons make delicious ice cream soup, but still maintains that Yetis are not cool and mysterious, but the worst of the monster group. 

From find-the-Yeti puzzle pages to Gilbert's first-person search to prove that they are anything but mysterious, readers will appreciate the fun of Gilbert's pursuit. 

Michelle Sterling's A Sweet New Year for Ren (9781534496606, $18.99) tells of Ren's family's celebration of Lunar New Year. Will she be old enough, this time, to participate in making her favorite seasonal pineapple cakes? 

A fine celebration of family and tradition gives kids warm illustrations and a story that combines a girl's growth and desire to participate with a fine seasonal tradition. 

Robert Quackenbush's Henry's Pizzas (9781534415991, $18.99) tells of a special birthday in which all of Henry's relatives send him a pizza to celebrate his day. 

Pizza is Henry's favorite thing; but how can even he consume so many pizzas at once? 

A wacky adventure evolves to interest kids in a particularly delicious dilemma. 

Patricia MacLachlan's Snow Horses: A First Night Story (9781534473553, $18.99) receives gorgeous, colorful drawings by Caldecott Honor-winning artist Micha Archer as it tells of two horses, Tim and Tom, who pull a sleigh and love the snow. 

It's the last evening before the New Year, when special things happen and shared experiences bring family members together. 

The warmth of full-page color panels, combined with an evocative story of horses, snow, and togetherness, provides a fine story that lends to read-aloud family participation.